Wednesday, 11 October 2023 04:46

The No. 1 question to ask in a job interview, according to a former Google recruiter

Rate this item
(0 votes)

A job interview has multiple components. Interviewers will likely take some time upfront to discuss your work history and do a general assessment of your fit for the role and company. And oftentimes they’ll leave 10 to 15 minutes at the end for you to ask some questions of your own.

You’ll want to fill that time by asking about the role, company and people who are interviewing you — so make sure to do your homework on all three before you come in. But according to former Google recruiter Nolan Church, there’s also one question every job candidate should ask:

‘What’s the No. 1 problem I can solve in the first 30 days?’

To begin with, asking your interviewers about their most critical problems gives you a chance to see if, on the ground, this is really a job you want to do.

It gives you the chance to think about, “do you actually want to solve those types of problems?” says Church, now the CEO of talent marketplace Continuum. “And then how does the team respond to your approach? Are they open to new ideas? Or are they kind of stuck in their ways?”

Ultimately, it’s a way to feel out, “are you aligned” with them, he says.

‘How do we get quick wins’

The other benefit of asking this question is, if you decide you are interested in pursuing this opportunity, it can start setting you up for success.

“We wouldn’t open up a new role unless there were more problems to solve,” says Church. By assessing what the most critical problem for the team is even during the job interview, you can start orienting yourself toward the job and thinking about how to solve those problems. That way, when you do get hired, you can hit the ground running on day one.

You want to get that job offer, of course, says Church. “But the next piece is how do we get quick wins” that will make your new team’s life better right away.

 

CNBC

March 16, 2025

Petrol price war drives marketers to reduce purchases as losses mount

A price war between Dangote Petroleum Refinery and the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL)…
March 16, 2025

El-Rufai speaks further on Tinubu’s presidency, Chicago scandal, other issues

Former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai has revealed that he and other political leaders were…
March 14, 2025

How leaders train themselves to rethink and adapt faster

Paola Cecchi-Dimeglio Recognizing the value of rethinking is one thing—making it a habit is another.…
March 01, 2025

Man offers to split $525,000 jackpot with thieves who stole his credit card to buy…

A Frenchman appealed to the homeless thieves who stole his credit card to buy a…
March 14, 2025

Gunmen invade Kaduna communities, abduct 10

Suspected bandits have abducted ten villagers from three remote communities in Kajuru Local Government Area…
March 16, 2025

Here’s the latest as Israel-Hamas war enters Day 527

Freed Israeli hostage speaks for the first time about his 505 days of surviving Hamas…
March 15, 2025

Humanoid robot with human-like competence unveiled in China

Du Qiongfang Humanoid robot manufacturer AgiBot in Shanghai unveiled on Tuesday its latest humanoid robot…
January 08, 2025

NFF appoints new Super Eagles head coach

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has appointed Éric Sékou Chelle as the new Head Coach…

NEWSSCROLL TEAM: 'Sina Kawonise: Publisher/Editor-in-Chief; Prof Wale Are Olaitan: Editorial Consultant; Femi Kawonise: Head, Production & Administration; Afolabi Ajibola: IT Manager;
Contact Us: [email protected] Tel/WhatsApp: +234 811 395 4049

Copyright © 2015 - 2025 NewsScroll. All rights reserved.